Joey Barton has accused the Football Association of "hypocrisy" after his unsuccessful appeal against the red card he received against Norwich City in Queens Park Rangers' 2-1 defeat on Monday.

The QPR captain was sent off in the 35th minute when Neil Swarbrick, the referee, adjudged that Barton had butted Norwich's Bradley Johnson. Replays showed that the 27-year-old had moved his head towards Johnson. On Twitter Barton posted a YouTube link to a similar incident involving Fulham's Clint Dempsey and Craig Bellamy in the match against Liverpool at Craven Cottage last month in which the American made a similar movement but was only booked.

Barton tweeted: "Just seen Clint Dempsey with Craig Bellamy for 1st time, the hypocrisy is borderline incredible IMO [in my opinion]. No doubt they [the FA] will try to charge me further now but how can that be a yellow and 2 weeks later mine be a red and 3 games? I am baffled?"

Barton then suggested that Johnson had overreacted by clutching his face to help get him sent off: "Right enough on this matter, I am going to use my 3 games to take up acting classes. Its abundantly clear the best thespian wins. Devastated to miss return to SJP [St James' Park to play his previous club, Newcastle United] and FA cup tie [with MK Dons on Saturday] but life goes on. Feel sympathy for those who have never played yet set the rules....... I'd be really interested to see who this 'expert panel' really consists of? Wonder if we can find out?"

Barton will also miss the home match against Wigan Athletic on 21 January but, despite his outburst, it is understood he is not likely to face further censure from the FA.